Fluid distributing apparatus



April 1955 M. E. CHANDLER 2,706,520

FLUID DISTRIBUTING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 29, 1947 INVENTOR iii/Z0125(Fm/Idle!- A ORNEY United States Patent FLUID DISTRIBUTING APPARATUSMilton E. Chandler, New Britain, Conn., assignor to Niles-Bement-PondCompany, West Hartford, Conn., a corporation of New Jersey ApplicationOctober 29, 1947, Serial No. 782,757

7 Claims. (Cl. 158-363) The present invention relates to apparatus fordistributing fluid from a common source to a plurality of dischargepoints, and is illustrated as applied in connection .with a system fordistributing fuel to a number of separate nozzles of an internalcombustion turbine.

In a system of this type, it is desirable to deliver equal quantities offuel to the nozzles of the turbine. This is diflicult because theexternal pressure conditions may vary from one nozzle to another.Another trouble which has been encountered in distributing systems ofthis type is that one or more of the nozzles may become partiallyclogged, resulting in uneven distribution. It has also been diflicult inprior systems to vary the total flow to all the nozzles whilemaintaining equal distribution to each nozzle.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved fluid distributingsystem.

Another object is to provide a system of the type described whereinprovision is made to avoid uneven distribution due to clogging of thenozzles.

A further object is to provide a system of the type described which willbe unaffected by the pressure conditions existing outside the severalnozzles.

Another object is to provide improved means for regulating the totalflow through all the nozzles while maintaining equalized distribution toeach nozzle.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent from a consideration of the appended specification, claims anddrawings, in which The single figure illustrates, somewhatdiagrammatically, a fluid distribution system adapted for use in amultiple nozzle turbine of the internal combustion type.

Referring to the drawing, the fuel comes from a tank (not shown), andflows through an inlet conduit 10, a pump 12, a discharge conduit 14, anumber of parallel branch conduits 16, 18 and 20, leading to dischargenozzles 22, 24 and 26.

The three branch conduits 16, 18 and 20 each contain a meteringrestriction, numbered 28, 30 and 32, respectively.

The nozzles 22, 24 and 26 are similar in structure, and only nozzle 22will be described in detail. Nozzle 22 includes a valve 34 operated by aflexible diaphragm 36, which separates a pair of expansible chambers 38and 40. The chamber 40 is filled with fuel at the pressure existing onthe downstream side of metering restriction 28. The chamber 38 isconnected by a pilot branch conduit 42 to a pilot line 44. The pilotline 44 is connected by similar branch conduits 46 and 48 to chambers inthe nozzles 24 and 26.

A by-pass connection leads from the discharge side of pump 12 through arestriction 50 in a by-pass conduit 52, a check valve 54, and a returnconduit 56 to the inlet side of pump 12. The pilot line 44 is connectedto conduit 52. The pressure in pilot line 44 is controlled by the forceof the spring 58 which loads check valve 54. The check valve operates tomaintain a substantially constant pressure in the pilot line 44.

The pump discharge pressure is controlled by a relief valve generallyindicated at 60, which controls the flow through conduits 62 and 64 fromthe outlet to the inlet of the pump. Relief valve 60 includes a pistonvalve 66 operated by a bellows 68. The interior of bellows 68 issupplied with fluid at a variable control pressure through a conduit 70.The exterior of bellows 68 is subject to the pump discharge pressurethrough a conduit 72 in the valve 66. The relief valve mechanism 60operates to 2,706,520 Patented Apr. 19, 1955 maintain the pump dischargepressure at a value determined by the control pressure supplied throughconduit 7 0. Any suitable mechanism may be used for supplying thecontrol pressure. For example, it may be that shown in my copendingapplication Serial No. 664,412, filed April 23, 1946, now Patent No.2,697,909, issued December 28, 1954.

The check valve 54 maintains a substantially constant pressure in thepilot line 44 and hence in the chamber 38 above diaphragm 36. Thediaphragm 36 operates valve 34 to maintain a correspondingly steadyconstant pressure on the downstream side of the metering restriction 28.The nozzles 24 and 26 similarly maintain the same constant pressure onthe downstream side of their respective restrictions 30 and .32.

The pressure on the upstream side of each of the restrictions 28, 30 and32 is substantially the same as the pump discharge pressure which isregulated by the relief valve mechanism 60. It may therefore be seenthat the three metering restrictions 28, 30 and 32 all have the samepressure drop across them, and hence, if their areas are the same, theflow through each of them is the same.

The flow through each nozzle is substantially independent of thepressure existing outside it. If any nozzle tends to clog, the pressureon the downstream side of its associated metering restriction will rise,opening the nozzle valve to reduce or eliminate the clogging.

Furthermore, clogging of one nozzle will not cause a pressure risethroughout the system, since the relief valve 60 prevents such apressure rise.

The terms and expressions used herein are employed for purposes ofdescription and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the useof such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of thefeatures shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize thatvarious modifications are possible within the scope of the inventionclaimed.

I claim as my invention:

1. In apparatus for distributing fluid, a common source of fluid, aplurality of discharge points, a main discharge conduit leading fromsaid source to a plurality of branch conduits, each leading from saiddischarge conduit to one of said discharge points, a pump connected inseries in said main conduit, a metering restriction in each of saidbranch conduits, a valve in each of said branch conduits downstream fromits associated restriction, operating means for each said valveincluding a pair of expansible chambers separated by a movable wall,first means connecting one of said chambers to its associated branchconduit between the restriction and the valve therein so that thepressure in said one chamber acts on said wall in a valve openingdirection; a by-pass conduit around said pump and a pilot source offluid under pressure in said by-pass conduit, and second meansconnecting the other chambers of all said valve operating means to saidpilot source so that the valves are operated to maintain equal pressureson the downstream sides of all said restrictions; and two flowrestricting devices in series in said by-pass conduit; said secondconnecting means connecting said other chambers to said by-pass conduitbetween said flow restricting devices.

2. Fluid distributing apparatus as in claim 1, in which the furthestdownstream of said two flow restricting devices includes a valve movabletoward open position by the pressure on its upstream side, and a springbiasing said valve closed, said spring and valve cooperating to maintainthe pressure between said two flow restricting devices at asubstantially constant value.

3. Fluid distributing apparatus as in claim 2, including means forcontrolling the pressure of said common source to control the total flowtherefrom.

4. Fluid distributing apparatus as in claim 3, in which said by-passconduit leads from the outlet to the inlet of said pump.

5. Fluid distributing apparatus as in claim 3, in which said pressurecontrolling means controls the discharge pressure of said pump.

6. Fluid distributing apparatus as in claim 2, in which the fluid is aliquid fuel, and in which the discharge points are nozzles adapted to belocated in spaces for the combustion of said fuel.

3 7. Fluid distributing apparatus as in claim 1, in which 2,165,447spray nozzles are located at said discharge points and said 2,430,264valves are located in said spray nozzles.

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 526,869 577,132

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,930,455 Hannum Oct. 10, 1933 4 Browne July 11,1939 Wiegand et a1 Nov. 4, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Feb. 26, 1928Great Britain May 7, 1946

